Disposable bedpan pillow

ABSTRACT

A disposable bedpan pillow made of flexible plastic film and comprising an inflatable, substantially U-shaped collar adapted to be superimposed over the upper portion of a bedpan and binding means adapted to secure the inflatable collar to the bedpan.

[54] DIISIPOSABLE BEDPAN PILLOW [76] Inventor: Patricia Ann Sattler, 103 Maple St., Parchment, Mich.

[22] Filed: Apr. 6, 19711 [21] App1.No.: 131,660

[52] US. Cl. 4/113 [51] Int. Cl A6lg 9/00 [58] Field of Search 4/113, 112, 110, 4/142 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,783 8/1930 Sawyer 4/113 995,692 6/1911 Barrelle et al.. 4/113 3,418,663 12/1968 Scott 4/113 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Att0rneyGordon W. Hueschen and Talivaldis Cepuritis [5 7] ABSTRACT A disposable bedpan pillow made of flexible plastic film and comprising an inflatable, substantially U- shaped collar adapted to be superimposed over the upper portion of a bedpan and binding means adapted to secure the inflatable collar to the bedpan.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSE? 41918 3.755.828

f b are 4 INVENTOR. PATF/C/A A 5477LR DISPOSABLE BEDPAN PILLOW BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to bedpans of the type in general use in hospitals or with bedridden patients and invalids. In particular, this invention relates to an inflatable, disposable pillow for a bedpan.

Conventional bedpans are made of a relatively heat conductive material and thus are extremely unpleasant to use when cold. It is an object of this invention to obviate the aforesaid unpleasantness and to provide a sanitary bedpan pillow which enhances the comfort of a patient or invalid using same.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a bedpan pillow that is disposable thereby obviating the need for washing, sterilization, and the like.

Still other objects will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art upon reference to the ensuing specification, the drawing, and the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are achieved by the present invention which contemplates a substantially U-shaped, disposable, inflatable collar made of an airand waterimpermeable, flexible plastic film material such as polyethylene film, vinyl copolymer film, or the like. The inflatable collar is adapted to be superimposed over the upper peripheral portion of a bedpan and preferably detachably secured thereto with a suitable binding means which can be an adhesive strip, a web means integrally affixed to the collar, an elastic or adhesive band depending from the collar, a plurality of straps, and the like. The collar is normally stored deflated and is inflated prior to use with air, with oxygen normally available in a hospital room, with halogenated hydrocarbon gas from an aerosol-type canister, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. I is a plan view of an inflatable, disposable bedpan pillow of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of the pillow shown in FIG. I taken along line II II and showing attachment to a bedpan by means of an adhesive strip;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of this invention showing attachment to a bedpan by means of a web;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of this invention showing attachment to a bedpan by means of a band depending from the inflatable portion; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of this invention showing attachment to a bedpan by means of a plurality of straps connected to the inflatable portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, conventional bedpan is provided with an inflatable, substantially U-shaped collar lll made ofa flexible plastic material, for example polyethylene film, vinyl copolymer film, or the like. Collar 11 is detachably secured to bedpan l0 and is inflatable through suitable valve means 12 in any convenient manner.

As shown in FIG. 2, collar 11 is provided with adhesive strip 13 on the underside thereof which contacts the upper peripheral portion of a bedpan, such as inwardly extending flange 14, and adhesively secures collar lll thereto when in use. Adhesive strip 13, preferably of a contact adhesive, can be conveniently covered with a peel strip which is removed prior to use. In the alternative, adhesive strip 13 can comprise a microencapsulated adhesive, i.e., rupturable microcapsules containing a suitable adhesive can be embedded or otherwise affixed to the underside of collar 11 and ruptured by applying pressure thereon when a deflated collar is first placed on the bedpan and subsequently inflated prior to use.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 where bedpan 15 is inserted into a pocket formed by inflatable collar 16 together with web 17 which is coextensive with collar 16 and substantially envelops the underside of bedpan 15. Optionally fasteners such as strap 18 can be provided for retention of bedpan 15 within said pocket, if desired.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4, inflatable collar 19 can be secured to bedpan 20 by means of band 21 which downwardly depends from. collar 19. Band 21 can be elastic or provided with an elastic periphery which draws itself tightly about the peripheral upstanding walls of bedpan 20, or outwardly-extending flange 22 thereof, and holds the inflatable U-shaped collar 19 snugly in place. In the alternative, band 21 can have adhesive regions on the inside adapted to adhesively secure band 21 to bedpan 20.

In still another embodiment of this invention (FIG. 5) a plurality of fasteners, such as strap 23 extending from one leg of U-shaped collar 24 to the other, can be provided, in lieu of a web as in FIG. 3, to hold inflatable collar 24 in place over the upper peripheral portion of bedpan 25. Also, the collar can be bonded to a disposable bedpan.

Inasmuch as the hereinabove disclosed bedpan pillow is intended to be disposable, low cost materials of construction therefor are preferred. Suitable for this purpose are polyethylene films, polypropylene films, vinyl copolymer films such as polyvinylchloride films, polystyrene films, polyvinylidene chloride films, polyvinyl alcohol films, and the like.

The foregoing discussion and the drawings are intended as illustrative but are not to be construed as limiting. Still other variations within the spirit and scope of this invention will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A disposable bedpan pillow made of a flexible plastic film which comprises an inflatable substantially U- shaped collar adapted to be super-imposed over the upper peripheral portion of a bedpan, a web integrally affixed to the outer periphery of said collar extending from one leg of said collar to the other leg of said collar and substantially coextensive with the collar, said web together with said collar forming a pocket adapted to substantially envelop said bedpan.

2. The bedpan pillow in accordance with claim 1 which is made of polyethylene film.

3. The bedpan pillow in accordance with claim it which is made of a vinyl copolymer film. 

1. A disposable bedpan pillow made of a flexible plastic film which comprises an inflatable substantially U-shaped collar adapted to be super-imposed over the upper peripheral portion of a bedpan, a web integrally affixed to the outer periphery of said collar extending from one leg of said collar to the other leg of said collar and substantially coextensive with the collar, said web together with said collar forming a pocket adapted to substantially envelop said bedpan.
 2. The bedpan pillow in accordance with claim 1 which is made of polyethylene film.
 3. The bedpan pillow in accordance with claim 1 which is made of a vinyl copolymer film. 